IRAN will support any nation or group that fights Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said.

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The supreme leader made the comment on Wednesday, ahead of this week’s annual observance of Quds (Jerusalem) Day to express support for Palestinians. Iran, Israel’s arch-enemy in the Middle East, has been a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s civil war.

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Posting on his official English-language Twitter account, Khamenei said: “We will support and assist any nation or any group anywhere who opposes and fights the Zionist regime, and we do not hesitate to say this.”

Iran has been sending military advisers as well as material and regional Shi’ite militias.

Israel, which monitors neighbouring Syria intensively, has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria targeting suspected arms and troop movements by Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas that Tehran sponsors.

Separately, Khamenei said on Wednesday that Iran’s enmity toward Israel was not the same as hostility toward Jewish people.

Iran will support any nation or group that fights Israel, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has (Image: GETTY)

Iran has been a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s civil war (Image: GETTY)

“The elimination of the government of Israel does not mean the elimination of Jews. We don’t have an issue with Jewish people,” Khamenei tweeted.

“‘Elimination of Israel’ means the Muslim, Christian and Jewish people of #Palestine choose their own government themselves and push out foreigners and thugs like [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” the post added.

Khamenei is scheduled to speak on Friday to commemorate Quds Day.

Tensions have been boiling between Iran and the US, with the Iran leader warning Americans will be expelled from Iraq and Syria in a speech to students.

Last month, US President Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea (Image: GETTY)

The US President hit out after an incident last month in which 11 Iranian vessels came close to US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf (Image: GETTY)

This prompted Tehran to retaliate with a missile barrage against a US base in Iraq days later.

Last month, US President Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea.

The US President hit out after an incident last month in which 11 Iranian vessels came close to US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf in what the US military called "dangerous and provocative" behaviour.

The notice says: "US Naval forces are conducting routine operations in the region with a commitment to freedom of navigation and the free flow of maritime commerce.

"Due to recent events and in order to enhance safety, minimise ambiguity and reduce opportunities for miscalculation, all vessels are advised to maintain a safe distance of at least 100 metres from US Naval vessels in international waters/straits.

However, the US president later said later he was not changing the military's rules of engagement.

The Pentagon has previously stated Mr Trump’s threat was designed to underscore the US Navy’s "right to self-defence".

Iran's Foreign Minister has dismissed as "foolish claims" US threats to trigger a return of all United Nations sanctions if the Security.

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The US president later said later he was not changing the military's rules of engagement (Image: GETTY)

US navy commanders recently repeated Donald Trump's threat to destroy any vessels which comes within 100 metres of their ships deployed in the Persian Gulf.

The maritime alert warned "lawful defensive measures" will be taken against any craft that encroaches the 100m exclusion zone around US ships.

The notice, issued by the Bahrain-based US Naval Forces Central Command, follows Mr Trump’s threat last month to fire on any Iranian ships that harass Navy vessels.

It comes amid soaring tensions in the Gulf where Iranian gunboats have been approaching US warships at sea.

A US official said the new notice to mariners did not herald a change in the US military’s rules of engagement but was meant to serve as a reminder of its existing policy in the troubled region.